Week 2 of the 2021 AFL Finals Series saw Geelong, yet again, prove too strong in semi-final weekend while the Dogs pulled off a one-point stunner at the Gabba.
Here’s how it looked for punters:Â
Calm Cats prevail
Let’s start on Friday night, where there was a familiar script for Geelong.
Chris Scott’s side, coming off a sixth qualifying final loss in seven, have a habit of bouncing back in Week 2 of the finals series. And so it proved, yet again, as they prevailed by 35 points after starting $1.35 favourites with Palmerbet. The margin comfortably accounted for the pre-game line of 16.5 points.
It was a case of ‘job done’ for Scott, whose thoughts would have immediately shifted forward to this Friday’s preliminary final. His side start $2.67 outsiders against AFL Premiership favourites Melbourne.
Having made the last four for the 12th time in the past 18 seasons, @barrettdamian has never understood those who criticise @GeelongCats.
Here’s why 👇 https://t.co/Gf0RS89hPC
— AFL (@AFL) September 5, 2021
Hawkins, Tuohy lead the way
Individually, it was two old heads who got the job done for the Cats. And at juicy pre-game odds, too. Tom Hawkins had a lacklustre first week of the finals but bounced back strongly, booting a bag of five. The key forward was $10 pre-game to reach the feat. Fellow veteran Zach Tuohy similarly surprised with his numbers. The Irishman racked up 30+ touches at the Gabba — a mark he had surpassed only twice in the 2021 AFL season. He was $6.00 to do so pre-game.
"I still feel confident each week that I can go out and perform at a high level."
Tom Hawkins speaks about his body and form, which seems to be improving as time goes on.#9AFLSFS | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/lgOu6nQwhm
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) September 5, 2021
Dogs deliver
If Friday night’s semi-final was a relatively straightforward affair, Saturday night’s was anything but. A see-sawing encounter at the Gabba was unquestionably the competition’s best semi-final in over a decade, and saw the Western Bulldogs ($2.33 pre-game) reach their first preliminary final since the flag-winning season of 2016. It wasn’t without controversy, with a host of decisions going against the Lions. But the Dogs couldn’t care, and have brushed aside a lacklustre finish to the home-and-away AFL season and rightly booked their spot in the final four in 2021.
They’ll start even bigger outsiders against Port Adelaide this Saturday night. Palmerbet’s early market has Luke Beveridge’s men at $2.70 against favourites the Power at $1.47.
https://twitter.com/RudiEdsall/status/1434126459203846145?s=20
Taylor Duryea’s late effort to prevent Charlie Cameron from running onto the loose ball inside forward 50 with 38 seconds to go was absolutely brilliant. #AFLLionsDogs
— Adam White (@White_Adam) September 4, 2021
Smith the standout
One man provided the standout performance in Week 2 of the AFL Finals series.
Dogs young gun Bailey Smith slotted three goals — including an incredible left-foot finish inside the last two minutes — to prove a match winner for his side. His haul was far from expected. Smith had kicked 10 goals for the season — not a poor return by any stretch, but not in the higher rung of goal-kicking midfielders. And that’s why he was as high as $34 to boot three at the Gabba. But he did exactly that.
The first time Bailey Smith has kicked three goals in an AFL game, and it came in a big-time, high pressure final.
Baz's moment 🤩 #YieldToNonehttps://t.co/1Dyiajxg3m
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) September 5, 2021
